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The potential use of identification of skeletal remains for the early detection of Ammotragus: an exotic ungulate species in Southern Spain

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Abstract

The main aim of our work was to evaluate osteometry as a complementary tool for the early detection of Ammotragus lervia, an exotic ungulate, which currently shows an expanding trend in southeastern Spain. For this purpose, 142 metacarpi and 123 metatarsi from seven Iberian ungulate species were determined by means of a classification function. In a general way, this function works, but regarding related species (those very similar from a morphometrical view), correct determination was reached in only 44.4–90% of the cases. However, in these cases, we can use auxiliary criteria like sexually dimorphic traits, and reach 100% correct identification of bones.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank to Dr. E. Balcells, Dr. R. García-González and Dr. L. Villar (Instituto Pirenáico de Ecología, CSIC, Jaca, Spain), Dr. R.C. Soriguer and Mr. E. García (Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain) for facilitating revision of bone collections. Thanks also to Mr. J. Navarro and A. Rodríguez, Sierra Nevada National Park, for providing most of the material for Capra pyrenaica. Special thanks to Mr. A. Palomares, Mr. B. Ibáñez, and Mr. E. Pérez (director and forest rangers, respectively, of the Caldera de Taburiente National Park, Canary Islands), for their help in collecting skeletal remains of aoudad specimens. We are also indebted to the staff of Valcaza (Valdepeñas, Ciudad Real, Spain) for their help in both field and laboratory procedures. This work has been supported by an agreement between the Consejería de Medio Ambiente (Junta de Andalucía) and the University of Jaén.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Jaén, Paraje Las Lagunillas, s.n., 23071, Jaen, Spain

    Emmanuel Serrano & Jesús M. Pérez

  2. Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain

    Gustau Calabuig

  3. Departamento de Biología Animal, Laboratorio de Zoología, Universidad de las Islas Baleares, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

    Luis Gállego

Authors
  1. Emmanuel Serrano
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  2. Gustau Calabuig
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  3. Jesús M. Pérez
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  4. Luis Gállego
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Correspondence to Emmanuel Serrano.

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Serrano, E., Calabuig, G., Pérez, J.M. et al. The potential use of identification of skeletal remains for the early detection of Ammotragus: an exotic ungulate species in Southern Spain. Eur J Wildl Res 51, 88–94 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-005-0082-3

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